What is the meaning of rail track?

Jan 12, 2026 Leave a message

What is the meaning of rail track?

 

Railway track (CwthE and UIC terminology) or railroad track, also known as permanent way (per way) or "P way" , is the structure on a railway or railroad consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers (railroad ties in American English) and ballast (or slab track), plus the underlying subgrade. It enables trains to move by providing a dependable, low-friction surface on which steel wheels can roll. Early tracks were constructed with wooden or cast-iron rails, and wooden or stone sleepers. Since the 1870s, rails have almost universally been made from steel.

 

rail fastening

 

Types of steel Rail

 

Types of rails are crucial in rail infrastructure, each designed for specific needs and conditions. Understanding types of rail sections helps in selecting the appropriate rail for various applications. There are mainly 4 types of rails:

 

  • Double Headed Rails
  • Bull Headed Rails
  • Flat Bottom Rails
  • Vignole Rails

 

As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.

 

track rail

 

Classification Height(mm) Head (mm) Bottom (mm) Thick(mm) Weight (kg/m)
Light Rail 8 KG/M 65 25 54 7 8.42
9 KG/M 63.5 32.1 63.5 5.9 8.94
12 KG/M 69.85 38.1 69.85 7.54 12.2
15 KG/M 79.37 42.86 79.37 8.33 15.2
18 KG/M 80 40 80 10 18.06
22 KG/M 93.66 50.8 93.66 10.72 22.3
24 KG/M 107 51 90 10.9 24.46
30 KG/M 107.95 60.33 107.95 12.3 30.1
Heavy Rail 38 KG/M 134 68 114 13 38.733
43 KG/M 140 70 114 14.5 44.653
45 KG/M 145 67 126 14.5 45.546
50 KG/M 152 70 132 15.5 51.514
60 KG/M 176 73 150 16.5 60.64
Crane Rail QU 70 120 70 120 28 52.8
QU 80 130 80 130 32 63.69
QU 100 150 100 150 38 88.96
QU 120 170 120 170 44 118.1

 

we also provide the others standards steel rails like India standard steel rails. If you are interested in these steel rails, welcome to send your inquiry.

 

Types of Rail Fastening

 

Rail Clip

 

A rail clip helps to fasten steel rails to railway sleeps. The rail clip ensures a reliable connection, helps maintain the integrity of the track when temperature expands, and absorbs the shock produced by the train. Given the wide range of applications, there are many types of rail clips. Some of the most commonly used include E-type rail clips, SKL rail clips, and fast clip fasteners.

 

rail fastening

 

Name Rail clip
Type E clip (e1809, e2006,e2007,e2009,etc)
Skl clip (skl1,skl3,skl12,skl14)
Or the type by customers' drawings
Material 60Si2MnA 60Si2CrA 55Si2Mn 38Si7
Chemical composition(%) C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80,Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00,Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03
Hardness For e clip: 44-48HRC
For skl clip: 42-47HRC
Fatigue life for Dia.18 is 3 millions cycles without breaking
for Dia.20 is 5 millions cycles without breaking
Surface plain (oiled), Oxide black, color painting, HDG, Zinc Plating...
Standard refers DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222

 

Spikes, Screws, and Bolts

 

Rail spikes are large nails with offset heads that are used to secure rails and base plates to sleepers in the track over the ballast. Rail spikes are essentially chisel-shaped with flat-edged points. The spikes are driven with the edge perpendicular to the grain, giving greater resistance to loosening. A dog spike is like a rail spike but features a pointed penetrating end, and the rail head has two lugs on each side that resembles a dog's head.

 

Rail Plastic Dowel

 

rail fasteners

 

A rail plastic dowel, also referred to as a rail plastic sleeve or concrete insert, serves as the fastening foundation. It is pre-inserted into the concrete sleeper before assembling the rail fastening system parts. The dowel ensures a good connection between the rail fastening system and the concrete sleeper, as well as insulating the fastener parts from the ties.

 

GNEE RAIL offers different kinds of railway fasteners to meet client's requirements, such as Elastic Rail Clip and Clamp, Rail Screw Spike, Plastic Dowel, High Tensile Track Bolt with Nut, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Railway Shoulder(Insert), Fish Bolt, Railroad Rubber and EVA Pad, etc. Samples and drawings provided by customer, we will manufacture qualified products accordingly.

 

Click here to obtain the detailed product catalog of GNEE RAIL.